Gravitationally actuated hanger



Oct. 27, 1942. e. P. BYRKIT GRAYITATIONALLY ACTUATED HANGER Filed Jan. 3l, 1942 INVENTOR l BY f ,4free/vsn Patented Oct. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE GRAVITATIONALLY ACTUATED HANGER George Palmer Byrkit, Glendale, Calif.

Application January 31, 1942, Serial No. 429,028

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved hanger for articles of clothing, towels and the like, the hanger being characterized by its simplicity of construction, freedom from springs and ease of operation.

Generally stated, the invention contemplates a gravity actuated hanger which includes a stationary portion provided with a back and an abutment, the back being adapted to be attached to a door, wall or any other supporting structure. The device also includes a gripping member pivotally attached to the back, the gripping member having a face which is gravit'ationally urged against the abutment. Any article of clothing, towel or other object which it is desired to suspend from the hanger may be inserted between the abutment and the gripping member whereupon the gripping member will hold the article in a suspended position. The weight of the article or any downward pull on such article increases the force with which the article is grasped between the gripping member and the abutment, but the article is readily released from the hanger by moving the article in a direction away from the back portion, that is, in an outward direction.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to disclose and provide an improved hanger for various articles which is operated by gravity and in which the force of gravity is caused to increase the pressure with which the article is gripped by the hanger.

A further object is to disclose and provide a simple and effective gravity actuated hanger composed of but two parts.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of certain exemplary forms of the invention and in such description reference will be had to the appended drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a three quarters front perspective view of one form of hanger.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modied form.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of another modified form.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the hanger comprises a stationary portion including a back portion I and an abutment or outstanding boss 2 projecting forwardly from the back portion. The back may be attached to the wall in any suitable manner, as for example, by screws 3 and 4 through suitable apertures formed in the back. The upper end of the back is bifurcated so as to form substantially parallel outstanding web portions 5 and 6. Each of these is provided with an inwardly directed slot, such as the slot l adapted to receive trunnions 8 integrally formed with a gripping member generally indicated ai; 9. The rear portion of the gripping member is relatively narrow and carries the trunnions 8, the narrow portion I 0 being adapted` to extend between the spaced web members 5 andv 6. The body of the gripping member 9 is preferably relatively heavy and includes a gripping face I I provided with serrations, knurling or a toothed surface adapted to be urged against the end of the abutment or boss 2.

The trunnions 8 and the slot I in which the trunnions are carried `are preferably (but not necessarily) above the horizontal level of the abutment 2 and the lower front portion of the gripping member 9 preferably extends below the level of the abutment 2, as for example, to the point I2. The gripping face I I is preferably concave and of shorter radius than the distance between such face and the pivots or trunnions 8. The front end of the gripping member 9 may be upwardly curved to form a hooked portion I3.

In actual use, the pivotal gripping member 9 may be readily lifted by engaging the downwardly extending front portion I 2 so as to insert any desired article beneath the gripping member and into the space between the gripping member of thel abutment 2. The weight of the gripping member will then press the gripping face Il against the article and the friction of the article against the serrations of the face will also cause the weightl of the article to pinch and hold the article within the hanger. Any downward motion or pull in the direction of the arrow I5 will simply increase the force with which the hanger grasps the article. If it is desired to remove the article from the hanger, it is only necessary to move the article in the direction of the arrow I6 (that is, away from the back of the device and into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1) whereupon the article will be released for ready removal. It will be noted that inasmuch as the pivotal point is above the level of the abutment, and is horizontally displaced with respect to the end of the abutment, a slight pivotal movement of the gripping member in an upward direction immediately causes a material space to develop between the gripping face II and the abutment. It is to be understood that additional articles may be hung upon the hook I3 in the customary manner.

In the modiiied form shown in Fig. 3, the back member l is provided with a substantially horizontal extending abutment 2' and the end of said abutment is provided with serrations as indicated at l1. The back portion l may be provided with a cavity I8 adapted to receive the end of the gripping member 9', such end being pivoted to the back I' as by means of a pin i9 which is mounted or journaled in the back l. The pivotal point of connection, however, is above the level of the abutment 2. The operation of the device is substantially that described hereinbefore. The lower and front end of the gripping member 9' may or may not extend below the end face I'I of the abutment.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 (particularly designed for receiving objects such as trousers) an appreciable amount of space exists within the hanger. The back member l is again provided with an abutment 2" and the gripping member 9" is of a generally U-shaped form, the front portion being substantially parallel to the back i and extending upwardly and then downwardly and `rearwardly to a point of pivotal connection 8 with the back. The point of pivotal connection, however, is above the level of the abutment 2". Trousers and the likemay be readily held by this hanger, the space between the hanger and above the abutment 2" permitting the entire cuff of the ltrousers to be readily received therein.

I claim:

1. A gravity-actuated hanger comprising: a stationary element provided with a back and an abutment projecting forwardly therefrom and a gripping member pivotally attached to the back and including a gripping face, said gripping face being gravitationally urged into contact with the forward end of said stationary abutment.

2. A two-piece gravity-actuated hanger comprising: a stationary portion provided with a back and an abutment projecting forwardly therefrom, and a gripping member pivotally attached to the back and including a gripping face, said gripping face being gravitationally urged into contact with said stationary abutment, a portion of said member extending below said abutment, the gripping member being oi a weight suicient to rmly hold articles inserted between said gripping face and abutment.

3. A gravity-actuated hanger comprising: a stationary element provided with a back and an abutment projecting forwardly therefrom and a gripping member pivotally attached to the back and extending forwardly and downwardly, said gripping member being provided with a grooved, frictional gripping face adapted to progressively approach into contact with the forward end of said stationary abutment as said member is pivotally moved toward said abutment, frictional engagement between the gripping face and an article inserted between said face and abutment tending to increase pressure between the face and abutment.

4. A gravity-actuated hanger comprising: a stationary portion provided with a back and an abutment, and a gripping member pivotally attached to the back and extending forwardly and downwardly, said gripping member being provided with a curved gripping face adapted to progressively approach into Contact with said abutment as said member is pivotally moved toward said abutment, said gripping face being provided with a serrated surface adapted to frictionally engage an article placed between the face and abutment and cause the weight of the article to urge the pivoted member against said abutment.

GEORGE PALMER BYRKIT. 

